2013 Record: 10-6

2014 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 7.5

2014 Season Win Total Picks: 'Under'

I was the only football analyst in the country touting the Arizona Cardinals going into last season. I won an 8-Unit NFL Futures Bet on the Cardinals going 'over' 5.5 wins and they cleared that absurdly low hurdle before Thanksgiving. Bruce Arians' charges closed the year as one of the hottest teams in football, winning six of eight games with the two losses - to playoff-bound Philadelphia and San Francisco - coming by a combined six points.

I think that Bruce Arians, who won the 2012 NFL Coach of Year Award for his work with Indianapolis, is one of the best coaches in football right now. He has a lot of weapons to utilize in his sophisticated offensive system and the Cardinals should be even better in his second season.

Arizona added corner Antonio Rodgers-Cromartie and drafted safety Deone Bucannon to strengthen one of the top secondaries in all of football. The losses of Karlos Dansby (free agency) and Daryl Washington (suspension) are blows to the linebacking corps, though, and the Cardinals need a healthy return from safety Tyrann Mathieu.

None of Arizona's peripheral numbers suggest that their 10-6 mark last year was a fluke or that this team is primed for a regression. They are legit. But Arizona's schedule is brutal this season and much more difficult than last year. And coaxing one good season out of turnover-prone loser Carson Palmer is one thing. But two in a row would be a miracle.

Add in heightened expectations this year and I think it will be difficult for the Cardinals to approach their 2013 success.

I don't like betting against Arians, who is now 19-9 as a head coach the past two seasons. But I don't trust Palmer. And if he gets hurt the Cardinals have no contingency. Depth is somewhat of an issue on both sides of the ball and with this grueling schedule I think that they could be somewhat exposed. I will say that the Cardinals will go 7-9 but if Arians manages to direct them over .500 I wouldn't be surprised at all.

Cardinals Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)

Week 1: Monday, Sept. 8, San Diego, 10:20 p.m.

Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 14, at NY Giants, 1 p.m.

Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 21, San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.

Week 4: BYE

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 5, at Denver, 4:05 p.m.

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 12, Washington, 4:25 p.m.

Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 19, at Oakland, 4:25 p.m.

Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 26, Philadelphia, 4:05 p.m.

Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 2, at Dallas, 1 p.m.

Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 9, St. Louis, 4:25 p.m.

Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 16, Detroit, 4:25 p.m.

Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 23, at Seattle, 4:05 p.m.

Week 13: Sunday, Nov. 30, at Atlanta, 4:05 p.m.

Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 7, Kansas City, 4:05 p.m.

Week 15: Thursday, Dec. 11, at St. Louis, 8:25 p.m.

Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 21, Seattle, 8:30 p.m.

Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 28, at San Francisco, 4:25 p.m.

Robert will be releasing his 2014 NFL Futures Predictions on Thursday, Aug. 14. Last year's top two picks (8-Unit Play on Arizona 'over' 5.5 wins and 6-Unit Play on Kansas City over 7.0 wins) both won easily and he has hit his top NFL Futures Play (rated 7.0 or higher) in four straight seasons. For more information visit his Insider's Page HERE.

Robert Ferringo is one of the best NFL handicappers in the world and is coming off one of the best football betting seasons in the 43-year history of Doc's Sports. Robert banked nearly $8,000 in profit for his football clients and won a stunning 62.1 percent of his NFL plays (95-58). Robert has won over 70 percent of his last 58 NFL side plays (41-17) and has posted six of seven winning NFL seasons. He has banked $17,400 in football profit, college and pro, over the last 20 months and he is excited about building on his staggering resume. Take advantage of our free, no-strings-attached $60 credit to use toward a purchase of Robert's football selections. You cannot afford to miss out on this great offer - click here.

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